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Dear friends in Christ,
A popular, though somewhat cynical , saying goes like this:
God smiles while we're making plans.
Another thought is:
Life happens while we're making plans.
Both of these sayings reflect the fact that life is often fickle and unpredictable.
So one might conclude that planning is a futile waste of time, right?
Yet Jesus says, "Which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?" and "What king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?" (Luke 14).
So, according to our Lord, it's sensible to plan.
However, we ought to do our planning against the backdrop of Someone else's plans; see Jeremiah 29:11, which reads, "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." These are certainly words of encouragement for each of us individually, and for us as members of the Body of Christ.
We, at Living Word Lutheran, are encouraged to pray, and to plan to become a viable and effective congregation, to promote a faithful ministry of Word and Sacrament, to carry out Christ's great commission to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching in His name.
We'll pray and plan, doing all in our power, while we eagerly watch to see God's awesome Power unleashed in and through us to His glory. Yet we'll be flexible in our planning, always making room for the surprises our Lord has in mind as He fulfills His Plan in our midst. For we are but clay in the Potter's hands. What will He make of us?
Let's join in earnest prayer: "Come, Holy Spirit! Come, Lord Jesus!"